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One of the main design flaws of the standard B1 battle droid was its reliance on a Droid Control Ship to provide a signal; if the ships were disabled, the battle droids would become useless. To remedy this, the super battle droid did not rely on such a signal and had a greater capacity for independence. However, the droid still operated best with a command signal, otherwise, they tended to forget about enemies as soon as they moved out of visual range. Additionally, the sturdy duranium frame of the super battle droid was larger and more heavily armored than those of a B1.[5]

Unlike its predecessor, the B2's delicate processing unit and signal receptor were buried deep inside the torso, offering much more protection from enemy fire. Small fully-automatic dual laser cannons were mounted on their right forearms, although in some cases this was replaced with a triShot weapon system. The B2-HA model's left forearm was replaced by a rocket launcher. They could use external weaponry (except in rocket launcher configuration), though their large hands had difficulty with smaller blasters. Instead, they were equipped with special blasters that only responded to signal emitters built into the hands. For the sake of efficiency, they used many B1 parts. Their feet were also outfitted with specialized equipment for difficult terrains, such as climbing claws.[5] Their arms also were modular, capable of exchanging their laser cannons for other specialized weaponry.

B2-HA battle droid lineup.

When they were not using their built-in laser cannons, they had their right forearm locked upright.[4]

As heavy infantry droids, B2s could take much more punishment than their flimsy predecessors. Even after being defeated, they could detach their torsos and keep up an attack although this was detrimental to their combat skill. Despite such traits, some models seemingly suffered low heat tolerance and were subject to bursting into flame upon contact.[3]

Most post-Battle of Geonosis B2 droids were capable of communicating with each other using an oversimplified version of Galactic Basic Standard.

Super battle droids saw use throughout the Clone Wars as soldiers for the Confederacy along with its smaller cousins and the dreaded droidekas. Most super battle droids wore an unpainted dull silver tone, likely to differentiate them from the tan coloration the Confederacy used for its standard battle droids, or perhaps due to varying manufacturers. On occasion, they would be painted with green markings for camouflage.[9]

Some Super Battle Droids were used as scouts to observe the plains of Geonosis, mostly because of their brute strength and their ability to destroy modest ground targets. This pleased many of the local Geonosians affiliated with the CIS, thus sometimes using the B2s as "spire guards."

The droids eventually were able to express certain emotions, though having catastrophic grammar. They possessed a more violent temperament than the B1 model, to the point they would even strike down allied units in order to quickly intercept enemy targets, as seen in the Battle of Geonosis. As well as that, they were also considerably more durable and intelligent, capable of easily withstanding light blaster bolts.[4]

The B2 battle droid was designed by the Techno Union using the existing B1 design as a template. After prototypes were successfully tested, CountDooku struck a deal with Poggle the Lesser, Archduke of Geonosis, to mass produce these droids.

Further orders were placed on worlds controlled by Baktoid and quadrillions of B2s were soon running off the assembly lines. Despite their advantages and ease of production, however, they were not manufactured as extensively as their inferior cousins, the B1s.

A few years after Order 66, Gizor Dellso reactivated a Droid Foundry on Mustafar. Among the reactivated production lines were a few lines that produced B2 battle droids, providing Dellso with an acceptable amount of B2's in his droid army.

After the Clone Wars, a few entrepreneurs found warehouses filled with the droids. Many were sold to gangs or major crime lords for enforcement. Others would be used by the various Separatist holdouts. Like some B1 battle droids, B2s were also used as guards inside the Death Watch bunker on Endor.[14]

In the Star Wars: Battlefront game series, the B2 super battle droids are deployed as standard infantry units, while B1 battle droids are in several specialized variants, as opposed to the B1s being more extensively utilized in the movies.